Disco Dance

Disco Dance

Disco Dance

Disco Dance

Synopsis

This book sheds light on the fascinating untold story behind what is collectively and disputably called "disco dancing," and the incredible effect that the phenomenon had on America—in New York City and beyond.

Disco is a dance and musical style that still influences these art forms today. Many think that disco "died" completely after the 1970s drew to a close, but in actuality people continued dancing in the clubs after the very word "disco" became an anathema.

Disco Dance explains why disco was more than just a dance form or a fad, describing many of the clubs—in New York City especially—where the disco subculture thrived. The author examines the origins of disco music, its evolution, and how young people adapted the dance styles of the day to the disco beat, charting how this dance of celebration and rebellion during troubling times became subject to ridicule by the end of the decade.

Excerpt

From the Lindy hop to hip-hop, dance has helped define American life and culture. in good times and bad, people have turned to dance to escape their troubles, get out, and have a good time. From high school proms to weddings and other occasions, dance creates some of our most memorable personal moments. It is also big business, with schools, competitions, and dance halls bringing in people and their dollars each year. and as America has changed, so too has dance. the story of dance is very much the story of America. Dance routines are featured in movies, television, and videos; dance styles and techniques reflect shifting values and attitudes toward relationships; and dance performers and their costumes reveal changing thoughts about race, class, gender, and other topics. Written for students and general readers, The American Dance Floor series covers the history of social dancing in America.

Each volume in the series looks at a particular type of dance, such as swing, disco, Latin, folk dancing, hip-hop, ballroom, and country and western. Written in an engaging manner, each book tells the story of a particular dance form and places it in its historical, social, and cultural context. Thus each title helps the reader learn not only about a particular dance form but also about social change. the volumes are fully documented, and each contains a bibliography of print and electronic resources for further reading.